MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins made the stunning cut of linebacker David Long Jr., a team captain at the start of the season, on Wednesday.

Long had been demoted from his starting inside linebacker role two games ago, in favor of fellow linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. Now, he’s off the team entirely.

Miami waived Long to make room for the waiver claim of tight end Jack Stoll, who was awarded to the team Wednesday. Although Long is a vested veteran, he is subject to waiver claims and not released outright because this season’s NFL trade deadline has passed.

Long, after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans, came to Miami in 2023 free agency on a two-year, $11 million contract. He is now waived halfway through the second of those two seasons.

Since Long was bumped from the Dolphins’ starting lineup defensively, he had played 15 snaps on special teams the past two weeks against the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams. His 2024 season with the Dolphins ends with him accumulating 26 tackles, two for loss, in six starts.

In the two games since Walker was inserted into the lineup, he has made 19 tackles and an interception, one which he dove for off a Calais Campbell tip in Monday night’s win against the Rams.

Stoll (6 foot 4, 247 pounds) is primarily a blocking tight end who was waived by the Eagles. He has 22 receptions for 193 yards in four seasons with Philadelphia — and just two catches for 10 yards this season.

The Dolphins have been active on waiver claims of late, also adding outside linebacker Tyrel Dodson on Tuesday.

Earlier Wednesday, the Dolphins announced they signed tight end Hayden Rucci back onto the practice squad.

On Tuesday night, fellow tight end Tanner Conner was placed on injured reserve, as the corresponding move in Miami claiming Dodson off waivers from Seattle. It inclined the Dolphins to pick up an outside tight end in Stoll.

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